Stephen Grisanti typed:
>> so new curtains are in the works. Something in a
>> cheerful floral pattern, maybe tulle. With flounces.
>
> Whatever you do, consider a layer of insulation.
> Also, my bride took our curtains and lined the back of
> them with reflective ironing board fabric which aids
> considerably in keeping the interior of the van cool.

It seems to me that once some curtain of any reasonable thickness that
convective cooling (air next to cold window glass falls toward floor of
van, slowly filling it with cold air from the downdrafts until occupants
are gasping for warm) has a larger influence on how cold it gets inside
rather than radiative losses. Of course, if the curtains were just
something gauzy, then radiative losses would be pretty big, but I wonder
how much additional warmth is added by thickening the curtains.

I guess what I'm asking is if the curtains were made of 2'' foam, but
spaced an inch away from the glass so the cold air would continue to
drop into the van -- how much different would that be than some thinner
material?

I could be wrong.* We coastal southern Californians have such a
remarkably poor grasp of cold.

I like the idea of reflective backing, though. Do you recall how much
thickness or stiffness it added to the curtains?

>
> I mean "cooler."  The van is already totally cool.

I should say so. Watch what you say!

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* Like this would be the first time!

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR